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GUIDE

Free & Cheap Date Ideas in NYC

Date ideas that cost little or nothing

Free and cheap date ideas in NYC: gallery nights, free concerts, walking tours, tastings and markets worth wandering. Pair any of these with a walk and you’ve got a night out. For paid ideas, see Date night.

465 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

Starts in 46m
FRI, NOV 13 · 11 AM–12 PM
43°F · Light Rain
✓ Verified Nov 3, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Battery Park City Library, Manhattan · official listing on nypl.org · checked Nov 3
Painting & crafts

Adult Crafternoon: Cyanotype Bookmarks at Battery Park City Library

📍 Battery Park City Library · Battery Park City, Manhattan
Free · registration required · Free; register in advance, space limited
Starts in 5h 46m
FRI, NOV 13 · 4 PM–5 PM
42°F · Light Rain Likely
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Brooklyn Public Library Central Library, Teen Tech Center, Brooklyn · official listing on bklynlibrary.org · checked Nov 5
Painting & crafts

DIY Fridays at Brooklyn Public Library Central Teen Tech

📍 Brooklyn Public Library Central Library, Teen Tech Center · Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Free
Starts in 6h 46m
FRI, NOV 13 · 5 PM–7 PM
42°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Flatiron Wines & Spirits, Manhattan · official listing on nyc.flatiron-wines.com · checked Oct 25
Drinks & tastings

Free tastings at Flatiron Wines

📍 Flatiron Wines & Spirits · Flatiron, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 7h 46m
FRI, NOV 13 · 6 PM–8 PM
42°F · Chance Light Rain
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Astor Wines & Spirits, Manhattan · official listing on astorwines.com · checked Oct 25
Drinks & tastings

Free wine & spirits tastings at Astor Wines

📍 Astor Wines & Spirits · NoHo, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 1d 0h
SAT, NOV 14 · 10:30 AM–2 PM
43°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 12, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Roebling Rink, Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge , Brooklyn · official listing on brooklynbridgepark.org · checked Nov 12
Painting & crafts

Roebling Rink Opening Day: Free Morning Skate Sessions

📍 Roebling Rink, Emily Warren Roebling Plaza, Brooklyn Bridge Park · DUMBO, Brooklyn
Free admission with a ticket for the 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM sessions. Remaining free tickets are unconfirmed. A fee applies if you rent skates. Later sessions have regular pricing.
Starts in 1d 1h
SAT, NOV 14 · 12 PM–2 PM
46°F · Partly Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 1, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at The Green-House at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn · official listing on green-wood.com · checked Nov 1
Painting & crafts

Día de los Hongos: Free Myco-Drawing and Mushroom Walk at Green-Wood

📍 The Green-House at Green-Wood Cemetery · Brooklyn
Free · registration required · Free with RSVP
Starts in 1d 2h
SAT, NOV 14 · 12:30 PM–4 PM
46°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Fairfield University Art Museum, Lower Connecticut · official listing on events.fairfield.edu · checked Oct 26
Painting & crafts

Fairfield University Art Museum Family Day

📍 Fairfield University Art Museum · Fairfield, CT
Free
Starts in 1d 3h
SAT, NOV 14 · 2 PM–4 PM
47°F · Partly Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 3, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Queensbridge Library Tech Lab, Queens · official listing on queenslibrary.org · checked Nov 3
Painting & crafts

Build, Design, Create: Protect the Egg at Queensbridge

📍 Queensbridge Library Tech Lab · Long Island City, Queens
Free · registration required · Free; library card login to register; teens
Starts in 2d 0h
SUN, NOV 15 · 11 AM–12:30 PM
47°F · Mostly Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 5, 2026
Why this place: Free · at T & T Vernon Block Association Garden, Brooklyn · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Nov 5
Painting & crafts

Calendula Salve Making Workshop at Vernon Garden

📍 T & T Vernon Block Association Garden · Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Free
Starts in 3d 2h
MON, NOV 16 · 12:30 PM–2 PM
50°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 3, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Belmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center, Bronx · official listing on nypl.org · checked Nov 3
Painting & crafts

Creative Aging: Paper Doll Making at Belmont Library

📍 Belmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center · Belmont, Bronx
Free · registration required · Free for adults 50+; registration encouraged
Starts in 3d 5h
MON, NOV 16 · 3:30 PM–4:30 PM
52°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 6, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Saratoga Library Teen Tech Center, Brooklyn · official listing on bklynlibrary.org · checked Nov 6
Painting & crafts

Teen DIY at Saratoga Teen Tech Center

📍 Saratoga Library Teen Tech Center · Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Free
Starts in 3d 5h
MON, NOV 16 · 4 PM–5 PM
51°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 6, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Brooklyn Public Library Brooklyn Heights Library, Gaming Roo, Brooklyn · official listing on bklynlibrary.org · checked Nov 6
Painting & crafts

Brooklyn Robotics League at Brooklyn Heights Library

📍 Brooklyn Public Library Brooklyn Heights Library, Gaming Room · Brooklyn Heights
Free
Starts in 5d 4h
WED, NOV 18 · 3 PM–4:30 PM
59°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Brooklyn Public Library Paerdegat Library, Brooklyn · official listing on bklynlibrary.org · checked Nov 7
Painting & crafts

Brooklyn Robotics League at Paerdegat Library

📍 Brooklyn Public Library Paerdegat Library · Canarsie, Brooklyn
Free
Starts in 5d 5h
WED, NOV 18 · 4 PM–5 PM
58°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 3, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Mosholu Library, Bronx · official listing on nypl.org · checked Nov 3
Painting & crafts

Informal Creative Writing for Adults at Mosholu Library

📍 Mosholu Library · Norwood, Bronx
Free
Starts in 5d 6h
WED, NOV 18 · 5 PM–6 PM
57°F · Sunny
✓ Verified Nov 2, 2026
Why this place: Free · pay what you wish · at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, Manhattan · official listing on cooperhewitt.org · checked Nov 2
Painting & crafts

At the Hearth: Make a Pinch Pot with Greenwich House Pottery

📍 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum · Upper East Side, Manhattan
Suggested donation · pay what you wish
Starts in 1w 0d
FRI, NOV 20 · 3 PM–4 PM
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Yorkville Library, Meeting Room, Manhattan · official listing on nypl.org · checked Nov 7
Painting & crafts

Junk Journaling at Yorkville Library

📍 Yorkville Library, Meeting Room · Yorkville, Manhattan
Free
Starts in 1w 0d
FRI, NOV 20 · 4 PM–5 PM
✓ Verified Nov 11, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Rugby Library, Brooklyn · official listing on bklynlibrary.org · checked Nov 11
Painting & crafts

Teen Time Crafting at Rugby Library

📍 Rugby Library · Rugby, Brooklyn
Free
Starts in 1w 1d
SAT, NOV 21 · 11 AM–1 PM
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, Manhattan · official listing on nypl.org · checked Nov 7
Painting & crafts

Sampling and Beatmaking with Ableton Live at SNFL

📍 Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library · Midtown, Manhattan
Free · registration required · Free; online registration opens Sat Nov 14 at 10 AM
Starts in 1w 2d
SUN, NOV 22 · 11 AM–12 PM
✓ Verified Nov 1, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Travers Park, Queens · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Nov 1
Painting & crafts

Outdoor Skills: Knot Tying in Travers Park

📍 Travers Park · Jackson Heights, Queens
Free
Starts in 1w 3d
MON, NOV 23 · 12:30 PM–2 PM
✓ Verified Nov 3, 2026
Why this place: Free · registration required · at Belmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center, Bronx · official listing on nypl.org · checked Nov 3
Painting & crafts

Creative Aging: Paper Doll Making at Belmont Library (session 2)

📍 Belmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center · Belmont, Bronx
Free · registration required · Free for adults 50+; registration encouraged
Starts in 2w 6d
THU, DEC 3 · 2 PM–4 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Noble Maritime Collection, Snug Harbor, Staten Island · official listing on noblemaritime.org · checked Oct 26
Painting & crafts

CloseKnit at Noble Maritime

📍 Noble Maritime Collection, Snug Harbor · Livingston, Staten Island
Free
Starts in 3w 0d
FRI, DEC 4 · 5 PM–10 PM
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Art House Gallery, New Jersey · official listing on arthouseproductions.org · checked Nov 7
Painting & crafts

9th Annual Affordable Art Show Opening Reception

📍 Art House Gallery · Jersey City, New Jersey
Free
Starts in 3w 2d
SUN, DEC 6 · 2 PM–4 PM
✓ Verified Oct 26, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Port Jefferson Free Library, Long Island · official listing on portjeff.librarycalendar.com · checked Oct 26
Painting & crafts

Dickens Festival Carols & Crafts

📍 Port Jefferson Free Library · Port Jefferson, Long Island
Free
Starts in 4w 1d
SAT, DEC 12 · 12 PM–2 PM
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Icahn Stadium, Randall's Island Park, Manhattan · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 25
Painting & crafts

Winter Wreath Workshop

📍 Icahn Stadium, Randall's Island Park · Manhattan
Free (per NYC Parks listing).
Starts in 4w 4d
TUE, DEC 15 · 3 PM–4:30 PM
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Oak Ridge, Forest Park, Queens · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 25
Painting & crafts

Elf on the Shelf kids' craft at Oak Ridge

📍 Oak Ridge, Forest Park · Woodhaven, Queens
Free
Starts in 5w 2d
SUN, DEC 20 · 1 PM–2 PM
✓ Verified Oct 25, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Crotona Nature Center, Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Oct 25
Painting & crafts

Handmade nature ornaments workshop

📍 Crotona Nature Center · Crotona, Bronx
Free
Starts in 6w 1d
SAT, DEC 26 · 11 AM–12 PM
✓ Verified Nov 7, 2026
Why this place: Free · at Crotona Nature Center, Crotona Park, Bronx · official listing on nycgovparks.org · checked Nov 7
Painting & crafts

Nature's Workshop: Winter Landscape Watercolor at Crotona Nature Center

📍 Crotona Nature Center, Crotona Park · Crotona Park, Bronx
Free

Questions

How many listings are in this guide?

465 verified listings right now. Updated automatically.

How are these listings checked?

Every listing links to the organizer's own page: the venue, the city agency or park, or the official ticket or RSVP page. We don't copy listings from other event sites.

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